Presenting facts on the plight of RTI activists working in Odisha,
the release issued by Odisha Duchana Adhikar Abhiyan said that about
30 RTI Activists have been victimised in the state because of
their fight against corruption and malpractices in various
Government offices.

HNF Correspondent

An RTI
(Right to Information) activist Sunil Mishra was allegedly beaten up by a few
anti-socials 19 February 2014 afternoon in a state government office. It is said
that the anti-socials were connived with government officials and the attack was
planned as the activist sought information that would bring malpractices into
light.

Sunil had gone to the office of District Industries Centre, Berhampur on the
said day to hand over a petition to the Secretary of Department of Industries,
Government of Odisha and to bring to his notice some of the alleged corrupt
practices by the DIC General Manager. As a Loan Mela (session for mass approval
of loans) was organised in the DIC conference Hall, Sunil was waiting in the
hall.

One Abhaya Sahu, allegedly drunk, suddenly attacked him and abused Sunil
with slang language for using RTI against the General Manager. Soon he
started assaulting Sunil physically before all present in the
Hall. Three other persons named Panchanan Choudhury, Sukuta Patra,
Rajendra Patra joined him and started beating Sunil mercilessly till he
lost his sense. “As the persons engaged in the violent act were known
criminals, nobody did come forward to protect Sunil,” said a release
issued through email by Pradip Pradhan, state convener of Odisha Suchana
Adhikar Abhiyan (OSAA) – a civil society body campaigning to promote and
facilitate use of RTI against corruption. “However, after they left the
place, some people took Sunil to the MKCG Medical College Hospital for
treatment,” the release added.

Sunil underwent treatment at MKCG Medical
for 3 days and got discharged on February 23. His family plans to shift
him to Bangalore for treatment as he suffers from chronic cardiac
problems. He has not yet recovered to normal state. He filed an FIR at
Baidyanathpur police station on February 21. Police is yet to start
inquiry and initiate action on basis of the FIR.

Sunil, in the FIR, has alleged that DIC
General Manager T. Badrinarayan has unholy alliance with the hooligans
and the attack was engineered.

As per the OSAA release, Sunil had
submitted RTI Application with the PIO of the office of DIC seeking
information on cases where irregularities, corruption and malpractice by
the General Manager were doubted. “General Manager T. Badrinarayan had
indirectly threatened him several times,” the OSAA release alleged.

Sunil is a known social activist of the area and is associated with Odisha
Soochana Adhikar Abhijan since 2010. He works against corruption by
using RTI extensively in order to expose corruption and malpractice in
different Government offices of Ganjam district.

Presenting facts on the plight of RTI
activists working in Odisha, the release said that about 30 RTI
Activists have been victimised in the state because of their fight
against corruption and malpractices in various Government offices.
Condemning the recent attack on Sunil, the civil society forum has
planned to file a complaint petition with Odisha Human Rights Commission
seeking immediate intervention and take steps to ensure arrest of the
culprits. OSAA has also decided to meet the Police DG in this regard and
initiate appropriate legal action against the miscreants.